The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1887-02-12
SOCIAL PURITY.


ity, without losing his reputation for
virtue, while woman cannot. 1t will
be noticed that this is precisely the ar
gument used by Joseph Surface to Lady
Teazle in the "School for Scandal" and
which popular fallacy, Sheridan intended
to portray in his play. In answer to
the opportunities of her reckless lover,
Lady Teazle piteously cries, Then you
would have me sin in my own defence,
and part with my virtue to save my
reputation?"
Now 1t was apparent in all this that
Surface was we'll inoculated with the
prevalent idea of the society OF his
times, that he as man had no repu-
tation to lose, and that in resisting his
overtures, Lady Teazle's only concern
was her own reputation. Now unfortu'
nately this same idea is too prevalent
IN the mercerary times in which we
live. Sheridan's play is almost as
pointed in its hits at popular social
crimes and follies in 1887 as it was in
1887. The world to-day pardons a
social crime in a man for which it
eternaIly damns woman. And yet
will any one have the temerity to assert
that the obligation of personal purity is
not as binding upon a man as it is upon
a woman1 Our attention has been
particularly called to this subject by
the torcibly and timely address of Miss
Francis E. Willard, president of the
Women's National Christian Temper
ance Union delivered in Baltimore last
Sunday at Mount Vernon M. E. church.
"Our hope is" Miss Willard said that
the women of our land will say to the
men at the altar: You must bring me
purity for purity, total abstinence for
total abstinence, and the same conduct
in daily life, in every respect, that you
ask of me- Nature and God ask for
no other law. l told the ladies abroad
years ago, that the men in my church
and social circle were as good as the
women. They shrugged their shoulders
and said: She has spent her lite III
doors with books, and does not know
the great world ; but | say the same
thing now. l believe the manhood in
America is master of itself. No man
is regarded more tende1ly by woman
than he who is buffeting the world
bravely, and leading at the same time
pure life The manhood Of America
welcomes US with heart and hand in
this work. Christianity in refining and
elevating men is lifting US.
81 found the hard-handed sons of
toll in Philadelphia responded as kindly
to the propositions of our pledge as any
others. Mr.. Powderley told me if |
would give HIM o. 1000 of your circulars
he would give them to that number OF
men, and that million and a-half of
people would have the privilege Of
knowing what we are trying to do in
our petitions to Congress for law 10
punish those who assault women. I
don't know the extent of crime here,
but in Chicago, where I live, it is
enough to make the dumb find voice
when this subject is mentioned. Not
long ago young woman passed through
that awful ordeal of motherhood in the
streets. She was taken to the station
and charged with infanticide. l
thought, when l read it, where was her
betrayero No doubt pillowed in COM
fort, while she was out in the storm.
In the police court his name was not
mentioned, while hers was covered with
infamy. was told there was no law
to reach such a man. This girl had
the gallant press to speak for her, an6
the preachers and loving women stood
oy her in the courts. Within mile from
US to-day, in the saloons and dens of
lnfamy, there are making compacts of
lnfamy and the promises of destruction.
"Till Christ came there were no hope
for woman. The results of Christianity
have been so sublime to us that we
ought never to cease chanting its
praises. At the altar tho question
ought to be rs this true, earnest mat
ter of the hearth But, in fact, it is
rather: Is she doing well? Will she
get good home, good provider
will he take care OF her?' This is the
fashion of the mercenary age.
No one girl in one hundred has the
pluck to ask man questions vital to
her happiness-whether he is pure,
whether he drinks or what MS daily life
is. In her heart she dare not measure
him by the same standard that he does
her. His position in life gives him a
wider outlook than she has. l hold
that woman should have industrial and
legal independence, not for herself
alone, but for the sake of men and the
homes il the land. Who would believe
that man once false to a woman
would not be ostracised by woman ever
afterwards? But is he? If the law
can reach woman, why should it not
the partner in her crime?
The outlook, however, for woman
is better than ever before. The work
the w. G. T. u. is doing is making it.
self felt in the homes and lodging
houses established, the awakening OF
sympathy among lawyers, preachers and
others and in hundred other ways. !
think see better time coming, and
may God hasten the day when woman
can stand before the world in her true
light and be understood in the right